Step 1 · Thinking about buying

Where are towns like the one I love?

Enter a town you like, or the one you’re leaving, and find the places most like it: similar incomes, home prices, commute, age of homes and more. Look nearby, in other states or only where homes cost less.

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Towns most like Crestone, CO 81131

Crestone: median income $45,156, home value $333,500, $293/sq ft, 13-minute commute.

TownSimilarMiles awayMedian incomeHome value$/sq ftWhat’s different
Kilmarnock, VA 22482 79%1,593$47,308$355,600$202 larger
Dillard, GA 30537 76%1,257$50,000$318,500$215 11 min longer commute
Golden, MO 65658 73%670$51,641$321,800$215 11 min longer commute
Willow Creek, CA 95573 72%977$47,258$388,100$223 pricier homes ($55K more) · more renters · older homes
Port Orford, OR 97465 71%1,042$43,777$342,100$273 larger · 9 min longer commute · older homes
Lincoln, MT 59639 70%716$57,778$371,700$418 pricier homes ($38K more) · younger residents · older homes
Philipsburg, MT 59858 70%697$56,719$380,000$316 pricier homes ($47K more) · younger residents · 10 min longer commute
Lottsburg, VA 22511 69%1,583$48,988$342,600$252 10 min longer commute · older homes
Blue Eye, MO 65611 69%686$59,866$298,100$189 cheaper homes ($35K less) · larger · 8 min longer commute
Seeley Lake, MT 59868 68%750$51,490$391,600$403 pricier homes ($58K more) · larger · 9 min longer commute
Greenville, ME 04441 67%1,915$64,789$291,900$361 cheaper homes ($42K less) · larger · older homes
Clarkdale, AZ 86324 67%417$46,813$374,400$280 pricier homes ($41K more) · larger · younger residents
Chama, NM 87520 66%88$38,889$217,600$266 cheaper homes ($116K less)
El Prado, NM 87529 66%105$61,618$487,300$336 pricier homes ($154K more) · larger · 7 min longer commute
Longville, MN 56655 64%856$57,404$335,200$377 11 min longer commute · more homeowners
Thompson Falls, MT 59873 64%826$60,000$305,900$277 cheaper homes ($28K less) · larger
Dubois, WY 82513 64%438$66,332$382,600$330 pricier homes ($49K more) · larger · 5 min longer commute
Joseph, OR 97846 64%783$71,471$383,200$341 higher income ($26K more) · pricier homes ($50K more) · larger
Fort Davis, TX 79734 63%517$65,227$241,300— cheaper homes ($92K less) · larger · younger residents
Sperryville, VA 22740 62%1,483$65,938$469,400$340 pricier homes ($136K more) · 6 min longer commute · older homes
Mercer, WI 54547 62%979$63,500$306,600$296 cheaper homes ($27K less) · 12 min longer commute · more homeowners
Mackay, ID 83251 62%583$73,482$366,900$286 higher income ($28K more) · pricier homes ($33K more) · 8 min longer commute
Ninilchik, AK 99639 62%2,503$47,333$250,800$168 cheaper homes ($83K less) · younger residents · 5 min longer commute
Chincoteague Island, VA 23336 61%1,645$63,464$346,700$288 larger · younger residents · more apartments and townhomes
Baileys Harbor, WI 54202 61%1,073$73,784$432,200$406 higher income ($29K more) · pricier homes ($99K more) · larger

Similarity compares income, home value, price per sq ft, population, age, commute, education, walkability, owner share, single-family share and age of homes. Click a town to see its housing market. Set your own criteria with the town finder.

Finding towns like the one you love

Maybe you grew up somewhere you loved and want something like it closer to a new job. Maybe the town you want is out of reach and you’re looking for a cheaper version of it. Or you’re moving across the country and want to know which places will feel familiar. This tool starts from a town you know and finds the places most like it.

How we measure similarity

We compare eleven things for every ZIP code: median household income, median home value, price per square foot from recent sales, population, median age, average commute, the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree, walkability, the share of homes that are owner-occupied, the share that are single-family homes, and the median year homes were built. Income and home values count most, because they shape what a place costs and feels like day to day.

Each trait is put on the same scale, so a $50,000 difference in home value and a five-minute difference in commute can be compared fairly. The result is a similarity score: towns in the 90s are close matches on nearly everything, and scores in the 70s are similar with a few clear differences. For each match we list the biggest differences, like cheaper homes, a longer commute or more single-family homes.

Where to look

  • Anywhere shows the closest matches nationwide.
  • Same state or other states keeps the search where you need it.
  • Within a distance finds alternatives near a town you’re priced out of.
  • At least a distance away finds the same kind of place somewhere new.

Tick “only towns where homes cost less” to find more affordable versions of the place you like.

What it can’t tell you

Numbers can’t capture everything that makes a place feel like home: a walkable downtown, the schools, the views or the people. Use the matches as a short list, then visit. Click any town to see its housing market, including how competitive it is and how fast homes are selling.